Apparatus for cementing wells



Feb. 23, 1937. E. v. CRQWELL 2,071,391

APPARATUS FOR CEMENTING WELLS Filed Sept. 20, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A5INVENTOR.

Enr/ 1 Gran/e A TTORNE Y.

Feb. 23, 1937. v CROWELL 2,071,391

APPARATUS FOR CEMENTING WELLS Filed Sept. 20, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet; 2

7 O I? ,I v 24 2 Q) Q 2 :;I 2 5 Y INVENTOR. 7 ,9 Era K Cram? 5 B grwwmwz A TTORNEY.

Patented Feb. '23, 1937 UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE 21 Claims.

This invention relates generally to means for cementing oil wells, whichcementing operation consists broadly of placing a fluid mixture ofPortland cement between the outside of the cas- V ing and the wall ofthe hole, the present invention appertaining specifically to structuraldetails constituting additions to or improvements in the means describedin my co-pending application, Serial No. 34,920 (series of 1935), filedAugust 6, 1935, such means involving principally a unitary or integralstructure of the valve body, and means to protect valves controllingdischarge ports through the casing member from possible injuries causedby abrasion or impingement of or 13 with the sides of the hole while'being lowered to,

operative position within a well.

All the problems described, and the objects stated with respect to theapparatus described in my said co-pending application,. SerialNo.34,920, filed- August 6, 1935, apply to the means constituting thesubject-matter of the present in vention, and in addition the following:

It is a principal object of the present invention, as distinguished fromthat of said abovementioned co-pending application, to provide a unitaryor integral valve body structure, preferably of friable metal suchascast aluminum, having ports radiating from a central valve chamber,said ports being adapted to register with lateral ports through thecasing member, which valve body structure is adapted to be imbedded in asurrounding filling of lapideous material, to form, when molded, inplace, a compositevalve body' structure within the collar'or casing shoeof which it becomes a part.

It is also an important object to provide the outward openingspring-pressed back-pressure valves controlling lateral ports throughthe wall of the collar or shoe, with abutments positively limiting therange of outward opening of said \valves to a space within the outersurface of the tubular supporting member; so as to protect said valvesand their resilient closure means from possible injury caused byimpingement or abrasion with or by the sides of the well hole whilebeing lowered into the well.

Other objects such as simplicity of construction, ease of assemblage,said lattel; advantage resulting principally from the integral'orunitary valve body structure, ,and adaptability, without change, toeither casing shoe at the bottom of the string or to a collar at anyplace above the bottom, will be readily apparent to all of skill in thisart.

(Cl. lee-1i In the drawings, in which one embodiment of my invention isillustrated,-

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section on line l-l of Fig. 2 through a casing.shoe and its attachment to a section of casing embodying essential partsof my invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section on line 2-2 of Fig. l;-

Fig.3 is a perspectivelview of the outside of theunitary or integralstructure of valve body lining designed to be imbedded in a body oflapideous material cast within casing shoe or collar;

Fig} 4 is a longitudinal section through a cas-. ing shoe embodyingprincipal parts of my invention showing attachment to a section ofcasing, illustrating the operation of cementing plugs therein contained;

Fig. 5 is a transverse section on line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a viewpartially in longitudinal section of a collar above awell screen showing application of my invention to any place in a wellabove the casing shoe. 1 t

Referring more specifically to the drawings, in which like numeralsdesignate similar parts throughoutthe several views, It] indicates asection of well casing, having threaded thereto, as

, shown in Figs. 1 and 4, a casing shoe II, and in Fig.6, a collar l2,in each of which shoe and friable metal, adapted to be imbedded orsurrounded within casing shoe ll or eollar I2 by the cast lapideousvalve body l4 hereinabove identified. Valve body lining l6 comprises anenlarged cylindrical portion I! having a seriesog. ports l8 extendingradially therefrom, said ports l8 being adapted to register'with likeports I9 thrcughthe wall of shoe H or collar l2. Said lining l6 alsocomprises an upper cylindrical extension 20 of lesser diameter thancylindrical portion H, in longitudinal alignment axially therewith, anda like extension 2|, although of less length,. similarly extending belowsaid enlarged portion ll, extensions 20 and 2 I, being respectivelyjoined to enlarged cylindrical portion frusto-conical reducing portions20a and 2 la, the parts comprising valve body lining l6, l1, i8, 20,

20a, 2! and 2 la, being joined together to make an: integral valve bodylining as shown more clearly in Fig. 3. A cylindrical valve 22 of thepoppet type with frusto-conical upper and lower seat contacting surfacesis adapted to seat on the inner conical surface of 20a, or 2m inaccordance with operating requirements.

Valve 22, as shown in Fig. 1, has a hollow body adapted to be filledwith lapideous material 2211 and is provided with an upper stem 23 and alower stem 24. Wing guides 25 extending radially fromvalve stem 23slidingly, fit the interior of extension 20 to hold the valve and itsstem in proper vertical alignment.

A spider 26 having a central boss 21 concentrically bored, said spiderand boss being horizontally disposed within lower extension 2| with saidconcentric bore .registering with the vertical axis through valve 22 andits stems, provides a bearing through which lower valve stem 24 extends,thus cooperating with wing guides 25 in securing proper verticalalignment of both seating surfaces of valve 22. w

A helical spring 28 surrounding lower extension 24 and seated on boss 21having an upper bearing on the lower surface of valve 22, normally tendsto urge said valve to contact with its upper seat.

Leaf spring valves 29-29 secured in any suitable manner'as by screws30-30 within an appropriate annular groove 3| formed in the outside ofcasing shoe or collar l I normally, by their tension, yieldably closelateral discharge ports l9 through said shoe or collar ll, being adaptedto yieldably direct the flow of pressure fluid down wardly through theshoe or collar. Upon contact of valve 22 with its lower seat 2la, whichcloses the lower bore, as hereinafter described, pressure plug 33 havingsecuredv adjacent its upper surface a flexible packing 34, circularlycut to snugly fit the casing, is provided for the double purpose offirst, acting as a barrier between mud fluid in the casing and cementabove it, and second, by contact ofa lower extension 35 of said plugwith the upper surface of valve stem 23, depressing float valve 22against the tension of its spring 28 so as to open communication fromabove through the lateral ports in the casing shoe or collar, and by ithe same downward movement closing the conduit below said valve so as toprevent escape of fluid pumped. in from above through the bottom of thestring. The function and purpose of upper plug 36 with its flexiblepacking 31 as a barrier between pressure fluid and cementing mixture,and as indicator is so well known in the art that it need not be furtherdescribed.

1 It will be seen that I have provided an improved gral lining of anysuitable material, of simple and inexpensive design,- maybe securelycast within a body of lapideous material, and with a" protection of theoutwardly opening lateral port valves from injury during placement in awell by a simple form of protecting abutment greatly increasespracticability by insuring against a very common contingency experiencedin lateral port cementing.

It will also be apparent to those of skill in this art that as thecementing collar or shoe is being lowered into the Well, in the event ofa caving of the walls of a hole, movement of circulating fluid underpressure may be either through the bottom of the casing, or in the eventthat egress is wholly or partially cut off, the casing may be raised andlowered alternately causing the circulating fluid to be ejected throughthe bottom or through the lateral ports thus assisting in graduallyeroding obstructions and preparing for placement of the cement.

The advantages of the form of combined float and cement deflecting valvein providing an upper closure to enable the, casing to be floated intoplace while providing for eflic'ient deflection of cementing mixturethrough lateral ports has been sufiiciently set forth in the co-pendingapplication of which the present invention is an addition or improvementabove averred to.

What I claim and desire to cover by Letters Patent is:

I 1. Well casing having a series of lateral ports, valvular meanscontrolling said ports, means in the casing and immovable with relationthereto extending above and below said ports, forming, respectively,upper and lower valve seats, a float valve, means resiliently holdingsaid float valve against said upper seat, andmeans actuated by fluidpressure to compel said valve to contact said lower seat.

comprising a tubular member, a valve body of lapideous material securedin said member, said valve body having a valve chamber formed thereinbetween the ends thereof, said valve body having an upper passageextending from the upper end of the valve chamber through the upper endof the valve body, said valve body having a lower passage extending fromthe lower end of the valve chamber through the lower end of the valvebody, ports extending radially from the chamber outwardly through thevalve body and through the tubular member, a valve member in saidchamber capable of discontinuing flow of fluid upwardly through theupper passage, and a plug adapted for actuation by fluid pressure tocompel said valve to close the lower passage 3. Well casing having aseries of ports, outwardly ,openingvalvular means on said casing tendingnormally to maintain closure of said ports, means for limiting theoutward opening of said valves, a float valve, means in the casing andimmovable with relation thereto above and below said ports formingrespectively upper and lower seats for said float valve, meansresiliently supporting said float valve against the upper seat, andmeans actuated by fluid pressure to compel said float valve to contactthe lower seat.

4.. An apparatus of the character described comprising a tubular member,a valve body of lapideous material secured in said member. said valvebody having a 'valve chamber formed therein between the ends thereof,said valve body having an upper passage extending from the upper end ofthe valve chamber through the upper end of the valve body, said valvebody having a lower passage extending from the lower end of the valvechamber through the lower end of the valve body, ports extendingradially from the 2,071,891 chamber outwardly through the valve body andthrough the tubular member, a valve member normally closing said ports,abutments seated in the depression and overlying the valves forpreventing opening movement thereof beyond the exterior surface of v thecasing, a float valve, means in the casing and immovable with relationthere to above and below said ports forming upper and lower seats forsaid float valve, means normally resiliently supporting said float valveagainst said upper seat,'and means actuated by fluid pressure to compelsaid float valve to contact the lower seat. .1

6. A device of the character described adapted to be connected with astring of well casing, said device comprising a cementitious plug havingupper and lower aligned passageways forming upper and lower openings foran intermediate valve chamber and having radial ports in its sides, a

valve in said chamber closing the boreof said upper passageway topressure within said chamber, and a plug actuated by fluid pressure foropening the upper passageway and ,closing the lower passageway.

7. An apparatus of the character described comprising a tubular memberhaving an opening throughout its length for the passage of pressurefluid downwardly therethrough, a valve body having a valve chamberformed therein between the ends thereof, said'valve body having anupperpassage extending from the upper end of said valve chamber throughthe upper end of said valve body, said valve body having a lower passageextending from the lower end of the valve chamber through the lower endof the valve body, ports extending radially through said valve body, andthrough said tubular member, a valve member in said chamber forpreventing .the flow of pressure fluid from the valve chamber to theupper passage, and a plug actuated by fluid pressure to depress saidvalve member for discontinuing flow of pressure fluid through the lowerpassage.

8. The combination of a well casing, a cementing device embodied as oneof the casing sections,

said casing section having a plurality of valved ports; a float valvebody of cementitious material cast directly into said casing section andinseparably connected therewith, and having a valve chamber therein, afloat valve in said chamber, upper and lower seats for said float valvein said chamber above and below said ports, resilient means for holdingsaid float valve against its upper seat, saidresilient means beingadapted to yield under the influencecf means operated by pressure fluidto permit said float valve to rest to normally urge said valve againstits upper seat.

10. In a well cementing apparatus, a well casing, a hollow valve bodysecured in said casing forming a pair of oppositely-disposed valveseats, a valve between, and adapted to close the bore through said valvebody by'contact with either of, said seats, and resilient means to urgesaid valve against its upper seat.

11. In a device of the character described, a tubular member, a hollowvalve'body' secured to said member forming a pair of oppositely-disposedvalve seats, a valve between, and adapted to close the bore through saidvalve body by con.- tact with either of, said seats, resilient meanstourge said valve against its upper seat, and a plug actuated by fluidpressure to force said valve to said lower seat against the tension ofsaid resilient means.

12. In a device of the character described, a tubular member, a hollowvalve body secured to said member forming a pair of oppositely-disposedvalve seats, a valve between said seats adapted to close the borethrough said valve body by contact with either of said seats, and a plugactuated by fluid pressure to force said valve against said lower valveseat.

13. In a well cementing apparatus, a well casing, a hollow valve bodysecured in said casing forming a pair of oppositely-disposed valveseats, a lateral port through said well casing and valve body betweensaid seats, a valve adjacent said port between said valve seats andadapted to close the bore of said valve body by contact with either ofsaid seats and resilient means to urge said valve against its upperseat.

14. In a device of the character described, a tubular member, a hollowvalve body secured to said member, a lateral port through said tubularmember and valve body, said valve body forming a valve seat on each sideof said port, a valve adjacent said port adapted to seat on either ofsaid valve seats so as to close the bore through said valve body,resilient means to urge said valve against its upper seat, and a plugactuated by fluid pressure to force said valve to its lower valve seatagainst the tension of said resilient means.

15. In a device of the character described, a tubular member, a hollowvalve body secured to said member, a lateral port through said tubularmember and valve body, said valve body forming a valve seat on each sideof said port, a valve disposed between said valve seats adapted to closethe bore through said valve body by contact with .either of said seats,and a plug actuated by fluid pressure to force said valve against saidlower valve seat.

16. In a device of the character described, a

tubular member, a hollow valve body secured to said member, a lateralport through said tubular member and valve body, a valve seat in saidvalve body on each side of said port, a valve adjacent said port and,adapted to close the bore through said valve body by contact with eitherof said seats, a plug actuated by iiiid pressure to urge said'valveagainst said lower valve seat, and an indicator plug actuated by fluidpressure to close the bore of said valve body above said valve uponcontact with said valve-actuating plug. 1

17. In a well cementing apparatus, a tubula member having laterallyextending conduits, said conduits being adapted to register with lateralports through a well casing, said tubular member with said conduitsbeing adapted to be cast within a valve body of lapideous material, avalve within said tubular member adjacent said conduits adapted to closethe bore of said tubular Jto urge said valve member to close the upper acircular valve body cast within said member' having a valve chambertherein, a portion of said body projecting beyond the lower end of saidmember, said projecting portion being tapered inwardly and downwardly toform a guiding end,

an upper passage in said valve body extending from the upper end of saidvalve chamber through the upper end of the valve body, and a lowerpassage in said valve body extending from the lower end of the valvechamber through the lower end of said valve body and the projectingportion, ports extending from the valve chamber outwardly through thevalve body and through the tubular member, a valve member in saidchamber, resilient means normally'tending to urge said valve member toclose the upper passage, and a plug actuated by fluid pressure to causesaid valve member to open said upper passage and close the lowerpassage.

'19. An apparatus of the character described comprising a tubular memberadapted to be connected to the lower end of a string of well casing, avalve body cast within the lower end of said member having a valvechamber therein, a portion of said body projecting beyond the lower endof said member, said projecting portion being tapered inwardly anddownwardly to form a guiding end, said valve body having an upperpassage extending from the upper end of the chamber through the upperend of \the .valve body, and a lower passage extending from the lowerend of the valve chamber through the lower end of said valve body andthe projecting portion, ports extending from the valve chamber outwardlythrough the valve body and through the tubular member, outwardly openingvalvular means normally closing the ports for yieldably directing theflow of pressure fluid downwardly through the lower passage, a valvemember in said chamber, resilient means normally tending passage, andaplug actuated'by pressure fluid to causesaid valve member to open saidupper passage and close the lower passage.

20. An apparatus of the character described comprising a tubular memberadapted to be connected to the lower end of a string of well casing, acircular valve body cast within said member having a valve chambertherein, a portion of said body projecting beyond the lower end ,.ofsaid member, said projecting portion being tapered inwardly anddownwardly to form a guiding end, an upper passage in said valve bodyextending from the upper end of said valve chamber through the upper endof said valve body, and a lower passage in said valve body extendingfrom the lower end of the valve chamber through the lower end of saidvalve body and the projecting portion, ports extending from the valvechamber outwardly through the valve body and through the tubular member,a, valve member in said chamber, and a plug actuated by fluid pressureto cause said valve member to open said upper passage and close thelower passage.

21. An apparatus of the character described comprising a tubular memberadapted to be connected to the lower end of a string of well casing, avalve body cast within the lower end of said member having a valvechamber therein, a portion of said body projecting beyond the lower endof said member, said projecting portion being tapered inwardly anddownwardly to form a guiding end, said valve body having an upperpassage extending from the upper end of the chamber through the upperend of the valve body, and a lower passage extending from the lower endof the valve chamber through the lower end of said valve body and theprojecting portion, ports extending from the valve chamber outwardlythrough the valve body and through the tubular member, outwardly openingvalvular means normally closing the ports for yieldably directingtheflow of pressure fluid downwardly through the lower passage, a valvemember in said chamber, and a plug actuated by pressure fluid to causesaid valve member to open said upper passage and close the lowerpassage.

, ERD V. CROWELL.

